Sheet metal corner seam closing tool



Se t. 5, 1961 G. L. CRlN'E, sR., r-rrAL 2,998,738

SHEET METAL CORNER SEAM CLOSING TOOL 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1960 INVENTORS ,W ATTORNEYS GEORGE. L. came SR. GEORGE- ADA":

Sept. 5, 1961 G. L. CRINE, SR., ETAL 2,998,733

SHEET METAL CORNER SEAM CLOSING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1960 Fig-3 INVENTORS GEORGE. 1.. CRINE sa GEORGE. ADAIR V BY ATTORNEYS 2,998,738 SHEET METAL CORNER SEAM CLOSING TOOL George L. Crine, Sr., 195 Goodview Ave., and George Adair, 889 E. Buchtel Ave., both of Akron, Ohio Filed June 10, 1960, Ser. No. 35,260 3 Claims. ((Il. 8115) The present invention relates to a tool for closing a seam on the corner of a sheet metal conduit or other sheet metal fabricated part.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clos ing tool for use in forming sheet metal conduits and the like which lends itself to rapid and efficient closing of corner seams, one which is readily portable and easily moved along an unclosed seam, and one which is highly effective in action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet metal corner seam closing tool which is of simple structure, one sturdy in construction, and one economically feasible.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric exploded view showing the cover removed from the closing tool according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view showing the tool in use;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the tool with the cover removed;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view as seen on line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan View; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the sheet metal corner seam closing tool of the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a horizontally disposed plate 12 having a forward end and a rearward end. The plate 12 is provided with a transversely arranged slot 14 inwardly of and spaced from the forward end of the plate and another slot, similarly arranged, inwardly of and spaced from the rearward end of the plate, the latter slot being designated by the reference numeral 16. The slots 14 and 16 are both on one side of a longitudinal medial line extending from the forward end to the rearward end of the plate 12. Another transversely arranged slot 18 is positioned intermediate the slots 14 and 16 and extends from a point spaced inwardly of one side edge of the plate to a point spaced inwardly of the other side edge of the plate.

A first pair ofupstanding rotatable forming rollers 29 and 22 are arranged in transverse spaced relation below, inwardly of, and adjacent the forward end of the plate 12. The rollers 21 and 22 are each carried by a shaft .44 which is dependingly connected to the plate 12, the shaft '44 for the roller 20 being disposed normal to the plate 12 and the shaft 44 for the roller 22 being disposed at an angle to the horizontal. The roller 29 has a tapered outwardly projecting flange 24 on its upper end and the roller 22 has a similarly shaped and arranged flange 26 on its lower end, the rollers 20 and 22 being arranged so that the tapered faces of the flanges 24 and 26 are in face to face spaced relation for contact therebetween of a portion of a flange of a sheet metal piece, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 5 and designated by the reference numeral 28.

A singler oller 30, having a flange 32 on its upper end, is positioned below, inwardly of, and adjacent the rearward end of the plate 12, the roller 30 being carrier by a shaft 44 which is dependingly connected to the plate 12. The shaft 44' for the roller 30 is disposed at an angle to the horizontal which angle is opposed to the angle at which the shaft 44 for the roller 22 is disposed.

A second pair of upstanding rollers 34 and 36 are arranged in transverse spaced relation below and intermediate the pair of rollers 20 and 22 and the single roller 30. The rollers 34 and 36 are each carried by a shaft 44' which is dependingly connected to the plate 12.. The shaft 44' for the roller 34 is disposed normal to the plate 12 and the shaft 44 for the roller 36 is disposed at an angle to the horizontal which angle is the same as that at which the shaft 44 for the roller 22 is disposed.

The roller 34 has a tapering outwardly projecting flange 38 on its upper end and the roller 36 has a similarly shaped projecting flange 40 on its lower end, the rollers 34 and 36 being arranged so that the flanges 38 and 40 are in spaced overlapping relation identical to and in registry with the flanges of the previously described rollers 20 and 22.

Each of the rollers 20, 22, 30, 34, and 36, are supported upon bearings, as shown in FIGURE 7 with respect to the roller 30, such bearings being designated by the reference numeral 42. The inner race of each bearing is secured to the lower end portion of the shafts 44 for the rollers 20, 22 and 30, and of the shafts 44' for the rollers 34 and 36, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, the shafts 44 and 44 for all of the rollers being identical, except for length.

The shafts 4'4 and 44 for the rollers 20 and 34 have threaded end portions extending through the slots 14 and 18, respectively, and are adjustably secured thereto by means of nuts 46 and 48, as shown in FIGURE 5 with respect to the shaft of the roller 20. The nut 46 is below the plate 12 and the nut 48 is above the plate 12 and locks the shaft securely in its slot.

Tapering washers 50 and 52 are used on the shafts 44 and 44' associated with the rollers 22, 30, and 36, as shown in FIGURE 5 with respect to the shaft 44 of the roller 22 and in FIGURE 7 with respect to the shaft 44 of the roller 30. The washer 50 overlies the plate 12 and the washer 52 underlies the plate 12 so as to position the associated shaft at an angle to the vertical.

The shafts 44 for the rollers 34 and 36 are longer than the shafts 44 for the rollers 20, 22 and 30, and the upper end portions are anchored by similar nuts and tapering washers to an auxiliary plate 54 positioned in spaced relation above the plate 12 and connected thereto by two sets of rollers or wheels 56. The wheels 56 are positioned in recesses formed in the edges of the auxiliary plate 54 and are mounted upon short stub shafts 58, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. Each shaft 58 has its end portions rotatably received in bores provided in the bottoms of the recesses and in bores provided in strap pieces 60 which extend over the sides of the auxiliary plate 54.

The auxiliary plate 54 constitutes a carriage connecting the rollers 34 and 36 to the plate 12 for limited movement as a unit transversely of the plate 12. Cap screws 62 extend through the slot 18 and have their heads bearing against the upper face of the plate 54 and having their lower end portions threadedly received inappropriately threaded bores provided in the plate 12. The cap screws 62 constitute a means for holding the plate 54 in any position of its adjusted movement transversely of the plate 12. Each shaft 44, 44' constitutes a fixed axis arranged at an angle to the horizontal. The rollers 20 and 22 lie along and are spaced inwardly of the forward end of the plate 12 and the rollers 34 and 36 lie along a line a parallel to the rollers and 22 between the rollers 20 and 22 and the single roller 30.

A cover 64, having handles 66 and 63 rising from the top thereof, is secured by screws 70 to the sides of the plate 12. The nuts 46 and 48 are common to all shafts 44, 44', and other nuts 72 secure the bearings $2 tothe respective shafts. I

In use, the tool of the present invention is manually positioned upon the unclosedportion 28 of a sheet metal seam, as shown in FIGURE 2, and is positioned so that the seam portion 28 is engaged between the flanges of the rollers, as shown in FTGURE 5, The tool is caused to move along the seam with the flanges bending the seam to the closed position, as shown in FIGURE 7, with the roller 30 having its flange 32 in such position as to: entirely close the seam and lock the two pieces of sheet metal together. The adjustability of the pair of rollers 34, 36, transversely of the plate 12 enables a user of the tool to close seams on curved edges or corners of sheet metal enclosures, conduits, and the like.

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet metal corner seam closing tool comprising a horizontally disposed plate having a forward end and a rearward end, a first pair of forming rollers each carried by a rotatable shaft positioned below said plate so that the rollers lie along and are spaced inwardly of the forward end of said plate and have their shafts carried by said plate, the shaft for one of said rollers being disposed normal to said plate and the shaft for the other of said rollers being disposed at an angle to the horizontal, a single forming roller carried by a rotatable shaft positioned below said plate inwardly of and spaced from the rearward end of said plate and having its shaft carried by said plate, said shaft of said single roller being disposed at an angle to the horizontal which angle is opposed to the angle at which said shaft for the other of said pair of rollers is disposed, a second pair of forming rollers each carried by a rotatable shaft positioned below said plate so that the second pair of rollers lie along a line parallel to said first pair of rollers and have their shafts connected to said plate for limited movement as a unit transversely of said plate, the shaft of one of the rollers of said second pair of rollers being disposed normal to said plate and the shaft of the other of the rollers of said second pair of rollers being disposed at an angle to the horizontal which angle is the same as that at which said shaft for said one of said first pair of rollers is disposed, and means on each of said rollers for engaging a portion of a sheet metal corner seam to be closed.

2. A sheet metal corner seam closing tool comprising a horizontally disposed plate having a forward end and a rearward end, a first pair of forming rollers each carried by a rotatable shaft positioned below said plate so that the rollers lie along and are spaced inwardly of the forward end of said plate and have their shafts carried by said plate, the shaft for one of the said rollers being disposed normal to said plate and the shaft for the other of said rollers being disposed at an angle to the horizontal, one of said rollers having an outwardly-projecting flange on its upper end and the other of said rollers having an outwardly-projecting flange on its lower end, said rollers being arranged so that the flange of said one roller overlies the flange of said other roller, said flanges being adapted to engage therebetween a sheet metal seam portion to be worked, a single forming roller carried by a rotatable shaft positioned below said plate inwardly of and spaced from the rearward end of said plate and having its shaft carried by said plate, said shaft of said single roller being disposed at an angle to the horizontal which angle is opposed to the angle at which said shaft for the other of said pair of rollers is disposed, a second pair of forming rollers each carried by a rotatable shaft positioned below said plate so that the second pair of rollers lie along a line parallel to said first pair of rollers and having their shafts connected to said plate for limited movement as a unit transversely of said plate, the shaft of one of the rollers of said second pair of rollers being disposed normal to said plate and the shaft of the other of the rollers of said second pair of rollers being disposed at an angle to the horizontal which angle is the same as that at which said shaft for said one of said first pair of rollers is disposed, and means on each of said single roller and said rollers of said second pair of rollers for engaging a portion of a sheet metal corner seam to be closed.

3. A sheet metal corner seam closing tool comprising a horizontally disposed plate having a forward end and a rearward end, a first pair of forming rollers each carried by a rotatable shaft positioned below said plate so that the rollers lie along and are spaced inwardly of the forward end of said plate and have their shafts carried by said plate, the shaft for one of said rollers being disposed normal to said plate and the shaft for the other of said rollers being disposed at an angle to the horizontal, one of said rollers having an outwardly-projecting flange on its upper end and the other of said rollers having an outwardly-projecting flange on its lower end, said rollers being arranged so that the flange of said one roller overlies the flange of said another roller, said flanges being adapted to engage therebetween a sheet metal seam portion to be worked, a single forming roller carried by a rotatable shaft positioned below said plate inwardly of and spaced from the rearward end of said plate and having its shaft carried by said plate, said shaft of said single roller being disposed at an angle to the horizontal which angle is opposed to the angle at which said shaft for the other of said pair of rollers is disposed, a flange carried by the upper end of said single roller and adapted to engage said seam portion when engaged by the flanges of said first pair of rollers, a second pair of forming rollers each carried by a rotatable shaft positioned below said plate so that the second pair of rollers lie along a line parallel to said first pair of rollers and having their shafts connected to said plate for limited movement as a unit transversely of said plate, the shaft of one of the rollers of said second pair of rollers being disposed normal to said plate and the shaft of the other of the rollers of said second pair of rollers being disposed at an angle to the horizontal which angle is the same as that at which said shaft for said one of said first pair of rollers is disposed, one of said rollers of said second pair of rollers having an outwardly projecting flange on its upper end and the other of said rollers of said second pair of rollers having a flange on its lower end, said one and other rollers of said second pair of rollers being arranged so that the flange of said one roller of said second pair of rollers overlies the flange of said another roller of said second pair of rollers, said flanges of said one and other rollers of said second pair of rollers being adapted to engage therebetween said seam portion when engaged by the flanges of said first pair of rollers and said another roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,659 Stewert Feb. 7, 1939 2,579,188 Hollaway Dec. 18, 1951 2,637,292 George May 5, 1953 2,660,909 Morse et al Dec. 1, 1953 2,783,668 Frolich Mar. 5, 1957 2,919,613 Crement Jan. 5, 1960 FORElGN PATENTS 62,334 Sweden Feb. 8, 1927 

